cityCURRENT

cityCURRENT We connect businesses with community to power the GOOD through events, media, and philanthropy.

cityCURRENT is a privately-funded catalyst focused on creating and sharing moments and media to inspire and . A team of partner businesses, comprised of some of the largest employers in the world to mid-size and smaller firms in the Mid-South, have partnered together to become a force for good to give back, host more than 150 free community events each year, and produce an array of po

sitive-oriented media. The name cityCURRENT pays homage to three important aspects of our efforts. It plays off our media and television shows, like The SPARK and The SPARK Awards, inviting you to join with us in being the electric current powering GOOD in our community, to be the current of our city, the cityCURRENT. It also ties to our championing the Mid-South and the current of the Mighty Mississippi River. And, it refers to the here and now, the current impact of our events and efforts. Since our founding in 2005, cityCURRENT has served the community by hosting seminars and workshops, weekly getCONNECTED lunches and panel discussions, bringing in national guest speakers with our Signature Speaker Series, and coordinating a variety of other events to enrich and engage the community. These events are underwritten by our corporate partners, so they are FREE to attend. We provide easy, turnkey opportunities for organizations and individuals to become more engaged in the community and strategically leverage our charitable giving and collective resources to make an even greater impact. We host a variety of volunteer days, action projects, nonprofit and school tours, and other experiential opportunities to see the GOOD. Recent examples include tutoring after school, mentoring, scrubbing graffiti off of buildings and bridges, washing the feet of over 3,000 kids and providing them with new shoes and socks, providing a wounded Veteran Hero a mortgage free home, picking up over 90,000 pounds of trash from McKellar Lake and the Mississippi River, spearheading the Fallen Officer Memorial, creating and promoting the Power of the Dollar Campaign ("buy local"), launching a civic pride effort called "Memphis Rocks," and hosting a Film Festival screening and telethon. One the media side, we produce and host television and radio shows, along with a podcast. We have a weekly newspaper column and two books that focus on achieving success in life and business while helping others in the process; and both books give back to support youth literacy programs. We hire freelance journalists to cover positive stories under the banners of GOODworks and River City Rising. And, we also contribute to national media outlets, like PBS and Forbes. All of our efforts are focused on spotlighting positive news and efforts, lessons learned, tips and ways you can join in the effort and become an even greater force for good. Overall, cityCURRENT interacts with over 50,000 leaders on a weekly basis and has received international recognition for our innovative approach to corporate philanthropy. We're working hard every day to create a new model and way for organizations and citizens to come together and make a difference; where engagement is free, volunteerism is easy, the good is celebrated, and giving back is woven into every event and effort.

Today, Jeremy C. Park and Andrew Bartolotta had the joy of getting a first look inside The Front Porch Memphis, a brand ...
11/07/2025

Today, Jeremy C. Park and Andrew Bartolotta had the joy of getting a first look inside The Front Porch Memphis, a brand new space built to bring our city together.

From the warmth of the Second Helpings Café to the peaceful veranda filled with rocking chairs, every corner invites connection, collaboration, and community.

Located in the heart of East Memphis, The Front Porch is where people come to work, rest, and gather for good.

Join the grand opening celebration this Saturday from 2–4 PM and experience the heart of Memphis hospitality in motion.

Learn more about their mission here: https://thefrontporchmemphis.org/

Today, we had the opportunity to step inside Freedom Prep Academy - Memphis and see firsthand what Level 5 learning look...
11/05/2025

Today, we had the opportunity to step inside Freedom Prep Academy - Memphis and see firsthand what Level 5 learning looks, feels, and sounds like.

Principal Dr. Arthur Rosenthal, Johnecia Howard, Executive Director of Freedom Prep Tennessee, and other faculty and staff guided us through a dynamic, purpose-driven campus where high expectations and deep support are lived practices.

We learned that FPA Westwood serves Kindergarten through 5th grade, with
✅ 364 scholars
✅ 45 dedicated staff members
✅ Primarily serving families in the 38109 community

Despite the barriers many students face, Freedom Prep is proving what’s possible when a school wraps children in high-quality instruction, family partnership, and a culture rooted in college-bound excellence.

Throughout the tour, we witnessed:
🎓 Scholars confidently leading their own learning
📊 Data-informed, small-group instruction happening in real time
🌟 A joyful, structured environment built on both love and rigor
📣 Hallways and classrooms celebrating college, character, and community

From the warm welcome to candid Q&A, one message was clear: when students are prepared — truly prepared — their futures open wide. Freedom Prep’s mission to ensure every scholar excels in college and life is not just language on a wall; it is visible in every classroom, every system, and every scholar interaction.

Thank you to the team at Freedom Prep for your leadership, transparency, and commitment to creating pathways to opportunity for every student. We left inspired, encouraged, and reminded that excellence is both a belief and a practice — and it changes lives.

November is shaping up to be a powerful month for connection, learning, and community impact with cityCURRENT! Every eve...
11/03/2025

November is shaping up to be a powerful month for connection, learning, and community impact with cityCURRENT!

Every event we host is designed with one goal in mind:
to empower you to learn, grow, and be a force for GOOD in our community.

Whether you're joining us in Memphis, Nashville, or online, we’ve created opportunities for you to build relationships, gain valuable insights, and be inspired by leaders who are making a difference — both locally and around the world.

Here’s what’s ahead:
✅ Nonprofit Education Tour at Freedom Prep Academy
✅ Get On Board Nonprofit Workshop on Running & Serving Better with EOS®
✅ Lunch & Learn at Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry
✅ Signature Speaker Series featuring Olympic legend Devon Harris

We’d love to have you with us this month.
Visit cityCURRENT.com to RSVP

Join us for a powerful Lunch & Learn Tour, hosted by cityCURRENT Partner KCS, at TPOM - Tennessee Prison Outreach Minis...
11/03/2025

Join us for a powerful Lunch & Learn Tour, hosted by cityCURRENT Partner KCS, at TPOM - Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (TPOM) where lives are being restored through faith, community, and second chances. TPOM walks alongside incarcerated individuals and their families, offering spiritual guidance, educational support, and reentry services that equip them for life beyond prison walls.

Join us for a powerful Lunch & Learn Tour, hosted by cityCURRENT Partner KCS, at Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (TPOM)—where lives are being restored through faith, community, and second c…

On November 21, we’re inviting you to hear from someone who didn’t just chase a dream — he pushed it uphill, through dou...
11/03/2025

On November 21, we’re inviting you to hear from someone who didn’t just chase a dream — he pushed it uphill, through doubt, through fear, and straight into history.

Devon Harris — 3x Olympian, original Jamaican bobsledder, military officer, and the inspiration behind Cool Runnings — is joining us for the next cityCURRENT Signature Speaker Series event.

He built his life on one belief:
✅ A positive attitude + relentless effort = unstoppable momentum.
He didn’t quit.
He didn’t buy into limits.
He kept on pushing — all the way to the Olympic stage and into a global legacy of resilience.

Now, he’s bringing that same energy to us — to remind us that your circumstances don’t define you, but your courage does.

🔥 If you’ve been sitting on a dream…
🔥 If you’ve been waiting for the “right moment”…
🔥 If you’re ready to step into who you know you were created to be…

This is your spark.
✨ Join us live, get inspired, and walk away ready to push for the life you want — no excuses, no hesitation, just action.

📅 November 21 | 8:30–9:45 AM CT
🎥 Virtual event — hosted by Independent Bank

👉 RSVP & save your seat:
https://citycurrent.com/2025/11/11-21-citycurrent-virtual-signature-speaker-series-event-with-devon-harris/

Let’s show up ready to push. Because your dream won’t wait — and neither should you. 💪🌍

Join us virtually Friday, November 21, for our cityCURRENT Signature Speaker Series event featuring Devon Harris. As an original member of the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team and captain of the 1992 and…

Nicknamed the “female Michael Jordan,” basketball legend Chamique Holdsclaw inspired us with her story of strength beyon...
10/29/2025

Nicknamed the “female Michael Jordan,” basketball legend Chamique Holdsclaw inspired us with her story of strength beyond the court. From leading the Lady Vols to three consecutive NCAA Championships and earning Olympic gold, to becoming the #1 WNBA Draft pick and a six-time All-Star — Chamique’s accolades are unmatched.

But her greatest victory? Finding healing and hope through the challenges of mental health. With raw honesty and courage, she opened up about her journey with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder — reminding us that true strength isn’t just about winning games, it’s about helping others heal.

💚 Hosted by Delta Dental of Tennessee, this powerful event encouraged us all to break the stigma, start conversations, and champion mental wellness in our communities.

View all the photos taken by cityCURRENT Partner, Creation Studios here: https://creationmemphis.shootproof.com/gallery/28614375/?mc_cid=b630482810&mc_eid=2c712bb462

10/24/2025

Johnny Pitts with cityCURRENT, powered by Higginbotham Insurance gives you the monthly Pitts 3-Peat.

#1. Paving the Way for a Smarter Memphis
Streets are at the heart of our city — connecting our people to work, school, and one another. How we care for them reflects how much we care for Memphis.

Earlier this year, Mayor Young created a new role, Chief of Development and Infrastructure, now held by John Zeanah, to strengthen strategy and coordination across planning, housing, public works, and infrastructure.

That’s where the new 10-zone street maintenance system comes in. Instead of waiting for calls, crews are out addressing potholes, drainage, and street cleaning on a routine, preventative schedule — improving service, reducing complaints, and strengthening trust

In just 62 working days, Public Works crews completed preventative work in all ten zones — filling 3,591 potholes, cleaning 2,699 inlets, and sweeping 1,436 miles of roadway — all while responding to 6,473 additional service calls.

That’s more than maintenance; that’s Memphis thinking ahead.

#2. Dance Memphis: Nine Memphis Arts Groups Unite to Elevate the City’s Dance Scene

Memphis is moving in a new way. Nine local arts organizations have come together under a new initiative called Dance Memphis, designed to strengthen and showcase the city’s vibrant dance community.

Led by ARTSmemphis, the collaboration brings together Ballet Memphis, Collage Dance, New Ballet Ensemble & School, Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC), Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Orpheum Theatre Group, Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s, and the University of Memphis Department of Theatre and Dance.

The initiative launches with a centralized calendar that spotlights dance performances and events across the city — making it easier than ever for Memphians to connect with the art form.

By sharing resources and uniting voices, Dance Memphis aims to expand access to education, performances, and collaboration — affirming Memphis’ place as a creative capital of the South.

#3. Professional Soccer Returns to Memphis with New Franchise in 2026

After a short break from the pitch, professional-level soccer is making its way back to Memphis.

The United Soccer League announced that Memphis Football Club (Memphis FC) will officially join USL League Two in 2026, bringing new energy to the city’s sports scene.

The franchise is locally rooted, co-owned by Carey Talley, a Memphis native and former professional soccer player, alongside his brother Clark. The Talley family has long been tied to the sport in Memphis—Carey and Clark’s parents, John and Kim Talley, were the driving force behind creating the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, a 2,500-seat stadium that once hosted the University of Memphis men’s and women’s soccer teams.

Fittingly, Memphis FC will play its home matches at Mike Rose Soccer Complex, competing as part of the Mid South Division in USL League Two’s Southern Conference.

With Memphis FC stepping onto the field in 2026, soccer fans across the Bluff City can once again rally behind a home team—and a new chapter in the city’s soccer story begins.

Check out cityCURRENT.com to share more positives with your friends.

10/20/2025

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Erik Houston, Executive Director of the Wolf River Conservancy, who highlights the nonprofit local land trust and the organization’s mission and efforts dedicat…

Last week for our cityCURRENT Nashville Signature Speaker Series Event hosted by Volunteer Bank, Kris Kelso spoke about ...
10/20/2025

Last week for our cityCURRENT Nashville Signature Speaker Series Event hosted by Volunteer Bank, Kris Kelso spoke about Imposter Syndrome.

His message really hit home — that self-doubt and the feeling of being a fraud are far more common than we think, even among the most successful leaders. Kris shared practical insights and real stories that helped reframe those thoughts as signs of growth rather than weakness.

It was an eye-opening and encouraging reminder that confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything, but from embracing the learning process and leading with authenticity.

Watch the presentation on-demand via GROWTHcurrent here: https://growthcurrent.com/overcoming-imposter-syndrome-with-kris-kelso/

Nonprofit Leaders + Board Members — This One’s for You!Join us Friday, November 14 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. (CT) for our F...
10/20/2025

Nonprofit Leaders + Board Members — This One’s for You!
Join us Friday, November 14 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. (CT) for our FREE virtual workshop:
Get On Board: Running Your Nonprofit Better and Serving More with the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) — hosted by cityCURRENT.

Discover how EOS® can help your nonprofit:
✅ Gain clarity and align around your vision
✅ Build a stronger, healthier leadership team
✅ Drive accountability and ex*****on
✅ Free up time to focus on your mission

Whether you’re an Executive Director wearing multiple hats or a board member wanting to boost your organization’s impact — this is for you.

Register now: https://citycurrent.com/2025/10/11-14-get-on-board-virtual-nonprofit-workshop-running-your-nonprofit-better-and-serving-more-with-eos/

10/17/2025

Exploring Science, Discovery, and Wonder at Nashville’s Adventure Science Center

In this month's cityCURRENT Nonprofit Spotlight, we feature the Adventure Science Center, a Nashville treasure dedicated to inspiring curiosity and lifelong learning through science, exploration, and innovation.

For 80 years, Adventure Science Center has sparked wonder in guests of all ages with hands-on exhibits, interactive experiences, and its world-class Sudekum Planetarium. From STEM education and field trips to community outreach and special events, the center’s mission is to make science accessible, exciting, and relevant for everyone.

Join us as we explore how Adventure Science Center is shaping the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and explorers — right here in the heart of Music City.

👉Learn more about their programs, exhibits, and ways to get involved at www.adventuresci.org

Thank you, Quickcuts Media for producing this spotlight.

Address

Memphis, TN

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+19013211000

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13 Honorees Celebrated During The SPARK Awards 2018

Thirteen organizations and individuals were honored Monday, December 10, during The SPARK Awards 2018 special broadcast on WKNO/Channel 10. The fifth annual televised awards show honors and celebrates the efforts of individuals, nonprofits, corporations, and schools, in 13 different categories, who are igniting change and making a positive impact in the Greater Memphis community. The SPARK Awards is produced in partnership by WKNO-TV and cityCURRENT.

WATCH THE 2018 SPARK AWARDS HERE

Back in August, the public was invited to freely cast nominations in each of the 13 categories, as an opportunity to recognize and help publicly thank the organizations and individuals who are leading by example and making a difference in the Mid-South. The categories cover individuals of different ages (youth, college student and adult), nonprofits and corporations of various sizes, then education with a school, teacher, and education leader award. There is also a Legacy Award to honor someone’s efforts and impact over the course of many years or a lifetime. Nominations were accepted from 8:00 a.m. on August 1, 2018 to 5:00 p.m. on August 31, 2018.

Once the nomination phase ended, all nominations were provided to the Midtown Memphis Rotary Club, who served as the independent judges for the awards show. No preference or weighting was given to multiple nominations for the same individual or organization. The criteria for judging was based on taking a leadership role in initiatives or efforts that better the Greater Memphis community, volunteerism, and impact.